23rd July 2014 The World acknowledged and marked the birthday of South African freedom fighter and hero, Nelson Mandela on the 18th of July 2014. The day is recognised by the United Nations as Nelson Mandela day and organizers had urged people to carry out acts of kindness for 67 minutes, in recognition of Mandela’s 67 years of public service. South Africans responded wholeheartedly and performed charitable deeds as they honoured his memory. People picked up litter, cared for the elderly and donated food, blankets and other necessities to the poor. Mandela’s widow Graca Machel also marked the day publicly by joining volunteers to pack food parcels in Johannesburg. In Mandela’s hometown of Qunu, staff at the Nelson Mandela Museum cleaned and painted a local clinic and also handed over an information centre to the town.
President Jacob Zuma marked the day by unveiling a statue of Nelson Mandela at the Mandela Science School in Mvezo where he will officially unveil a statue of the late former President.
Google also marked the great man’s passing with an interactive doodle sharing some of his most famous quotes. Some of our favourites were “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead” and “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”